Elkton – Rita M. Cochran, 85, of Elkton died Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at Riverview Manor in Flandreau. Rita was born at Flandreau to Walter and Agnes (Fargen) McTague. She was educated in a Brookings County country school and graduated from Elkton High School in 1941. Rita attended business school in Minneapolis and then was married to Orval Cochran on October 13, 1943 in Elkton. They farmed in Spring Creek Township and then moved to Parnell Township in Brookings Co. along State Hwy 13. She worked at Riverview Manor in Flandreau while her mother was a resident there. Orval died on May 28, 1982 and Rita moved into Elkton. She worked in Brookings at Econo Foods, Hy-Vee, and Wal-Mart retiring in 2007. In July of 2007 she moved to Green Leaf Assisted Living in Brookings and became a resident at Riverview Manor in January of 2009. She was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Altar Society and the Elkton Betterment Committee. Orval and Rita loved to ride their motorcycle and Rita enjoyed oil painting, her flower garden, walking, dancing and was an avid quilter.

Rita is survived by five children, Pat (Robert) Overend, San Antonio, TX, Kay (Dan) Myers, Milwaukee, WI, Carol (William) Hilton, Buffalo, WY, Mary Jane (Robert) Short, Aurora, Joe Cochran, Elkton; 21 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren with seven more on the way and one brother, Joseph McTague, Spokane, WA. Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Orval; a daugher-in-law, Deb Cochran; her parents, and one brother, Emmett McTague.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Elkton with burial in Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Cemetery, Flandreau, SD. Visitation will begin at 4:00 PM on Friday at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Elkton with a 7:00 PM scripture service.